Abstract: Objective To investigate the protective effect of propofol on cerebral ischemia and reperfusion damage in rats. Methods Eighteen adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, ischemia group (n=6), sham injury group (n=6) and propofol group (n=6). Cerebral ischemia and reperfusion models were made by Longa method, monitoring the rectal temperature and blood sugar. The rats were excuted after 24 hours, whose brains were dying by TTC to measure the area of the cerebral infraction. Apoptosis and necrosis rate were detected by cytometry .Western blot was used to detect the expressions of the HIF-1α、caspase-3 and survivn in brain mantle and hippocampi. Results Apoptosis and necrosis appeared in the nerve cells in brain mantle and hippocampi after the cerebral ischemia and reperfusion damage, in the same time, the expressions of HIF-1α and caspase-3 increased and the survivn decreased .However, the Apoptosis and necrosis reduced in the propofol groups, and the expression of HIF-1α and caspase-3 were inhibited and the survivn increased. (HIF-1α/α-tublulin ratio 0.68±0.02 vs 0.84±0.03, P<0.05, caspase-3/α-tublulin ratio 0.29±0.03 vs 0.57±0.04, P<0.05, survivn/α-tublulin ratio 0.52±0.02 vs 0.19±0.02, P<0.05). Conclusion Propofol may inhibit hypoxia in the brain and the apoptosis of nerve cells in result of protecting the cerebral ischemia and reperfusion damage in rats.